The Viper in the Bosom

The US Ambassador in Pakistan has been uncharacteristically blunt in her talk with the Washington Post. Her remarks on the 'Quetta Shura' ( US perception of a grouping of Afghan Taliban supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan) come just when the Kerry-Lugar Bill is being called 'peanuts' and its conditionalities are being considered as 'unacceptable' for a sovereign country and the work of those who want to survive on US largesse. The Pakistan street is also concerned with the whole 'Blackwater' expose and in fact the US-Pakistan relationship is being viewed with a great deal of suspicion with the focus once again on the continuing Drone attacks. Pakistanis are now openly asking who the real viper is after the US ambassador spoke of 'those who keep vipers in their bosom get bitten'. She also confirmed a divergence of interests with Pakistan and admitted that while they do not have enough information on Baluchistan it is going to be the focus of their interest.

The Ambassadors remarks come after an obviously 'leaked' story in the Sunday Times that hinted at 'drone attacks in Quetta'. Quetta is the provincial capital of Baluchistan-- Pakistan's largest province that has long land borders with Iran and Southern Afghanistan the heart of the Taliban struggle against the US/NATO. The current US problem with Iran is also on the table unresolved. Is the Ambassador shifting focus away from 'Blackwater' and 'Kerry-Lugar' or is this the van guard of an attempt to bring the problems with Pakistan to a head right after US economic aid to Pakistan has been tripled? Or is this to suggest expansion of the conflict in Afghanistan to justify and support McChrystal's demand for more troops under threat of failure or is it to cover up the total failure in Afghanistan by blaming the mythical 'Quetta Shura'? Does this have anything to do with a military option against Iran that is being pushed by certain lobbies? Is it just a message to Pakistan to clean up its act in Baluchistan? Or is it ALL of the above?

Pakistan's Foreign Office that should have worked on and approved the language in the Kerry-Lugar Bill is strangely silent not just on the Bill but on a whole range of issues being debated on the street and the media. This silence is accelerating the debate and giving it dark twists. People who have other jobs to do are defending the Bill with negative impact. Parliament and especially the 'opposition' are not clamoring for a parliamentary debate. The so called 'establishment' now knows better than to meddle in matters that are the responsibility of the political government. The media is trying to get an informed debate going but because of commercial interests gets side tracked to trivial mindless arguments with each other and interviews of retired has-beens who should zip-up and fade away.

There are some issues that are important in the context of US interest in Baluchistan. The US needs to take a careful look at the shenanigans of the pro-Indian Afghan government and India's use of Afghanistan to push its own agenda. Why have Baluch dissidents been given sanctuary in Afghanistan—is this the 'Kabul Shura'? Why is the US not acting to arrange urgent repatriation of the millions of Afghan refugees in Baluchistan because they are involved in crime, weapons and drugs trafficking and terrorism—are they part of the US perception of the 'Quetta Shura'? Why has the US not ensured implementation of Pakistan's proposal for biometric checks at the Afghan border, recognition and hardening of the Pak-Afghan border—even mining, fencing and installing electronic monitors? How important is the "southern corridor' through Baluchistan for NATO logistics? It might also be a good idea to look for the real 'Shura' across the border in Kandahar. Maybe there is a 'Kandahar Shura' there. There is the matter of funds flowing into Al Qaeda and Taleban coffers in Afghanistan, the narco-terrorism in Afghanistan and the impending return of the warlords—not that they were really gone—in the post election scenarion in Afghanistan. These are some of the matters the US might dwell on as it studies the depth of the failure in Afghanistan after spending over $ 11 Billion there. If this is not discussed then the obvious inference will be that the US is not averse to civil war in Baluchistan, destabilization of Pakistan and the 'leaks' of impending drone strikes are meant to sabotage the Iran-Pakistan pipeline deal and other foreign investments in Baluchistan.

For Pakistan's political leadership this is an opportunity to harness Baluch-Pashtun nationalism in Baluchistan, Pashtun nationalism in its Frontier province that has the potential to engulf Southern Afghanistan and Pakistani nationalism across the country. For this it has to be inter-active, pro- active and focused on governance with all its pillars and institutions on the same page. We have to look inwards to develop the strength to survive in a globalized world. Divided We Fall is an axiom that needs to be revisited NOW.

by AHSAN WAHEED

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